School of Education formalizes partnership with schools in New Haven and Norwalk

Donna Aiello, left, supervisor of professional development for New Haven Public Schools; Jennifer Walsh, literacy coach at Fair Haven School; Margaret Mary Gethings, principal of Fair Haven School; Lauren Canalori, literacy coach at Fair Haven School; Beth Larkins-Strathy, associate dean of the Quinnipiac University School of Education; Imma Canelli, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for New Haven Public Schools; and Kevin Basmadjian, associate professor and MAT program director at Quinnipiac.

Educators from the elementary schools signed a Collaborative Partnership Memorandum of Understanding, which lays the groundwork for professional preparation of candidates, faculty development, inquiry directed at the improvement of practice and enhanced student learning.

Representatives from each school made a formal commitment to provide the most effective teaching and learning for students of all ages. By combining resources and working together, the Quinnipiac University School of Education, Fair Haven School and Side by Side Charter School will share the objective of preparing effective teachers who can provide the best educational experiences for students learning at all levels and in all disciplines.

“The Quinnipiac University School of Education is excited about establishing formal relationships with the two outstanding urban schools,” said Gary Alger, interim dean of the School of Education at Quinnipiac. “These professional development schools will ensure that our graduate students receive high quality, field-based training to become exceptional classroom teachers who will be sought out by school principals after they graduate from Quinnipiac.”

The partnership is beneficial to everyone, said Margaret Mary Gethings, principal of Fair Haven School. Gethings said she expects to welcome 45 Quinnipiac students to her school each year to work with students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

“It affords our students the opportunity to have small group instruction,” she said. “Quinnipiac students are able to take in the school culture, climate and environment.”

Jennifer Walsh, an instructional literacy coach at Fair Haven School, said she and her colleagues are excited about working with Quinnipiac.

“The teachers are thrilled to have Quinnipiac students in the classroom,” Walsh said.

Several Quinnipiac alumni have gone on to teach at the Fair Haven School, she said.

Matthew Nittoly, director of Side by Side Charter School, said he is looking forward to the partnership.

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” he said of the agreement. “Our teachers will have the opportunity to learn from the Quinnipiac faculty and we will take on interns from the university to work in our classrooms.”

It was not immediately known how many Quinnipiac students would be working at the Side by Side Charter School.

“The collaborative synergy between the School of Education faculty and the administrators and teachers at these public schools will enable our candidates to learn first-hand from the finest educators; professionals who are successfully meeting the challenges of urban education every day,” Alger said.

Quinnipiac University

Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university enrolls 6,500 full-time undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students in 58 undergraduate and more than 20 graduate programs of study in its School of Business and Engineering, School of Communications, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Law, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, School of Nursing and College of Arts and Sciences. Quinnipiac consistently ranks among the top regional universities in the North in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges issue. The 2014 issue of U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges named Quinnipiac as the top up-and-coming school with master’s programs in the Northern Region. Quinnipiac also is recognized in Princeton Review’s “The Best 377 Colleges.” The Chronicle of Higher Education has named Quinnipiac among the “Great Colleges to Work For.” For more information, please visit www.quinnipiac.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook at www.facebook.com/quinnipiacuniversity and follow Quinnipiac on Twitter @QuinnipiacU.